Intermittent rainfall continues to improve national dam levels as DWS fast-track water infrastructure projects to ensure water security

The Department of Water and Sanitation’s weekly state of water reservoirs report demonstrates a minor enhancement in storage. This week, the overall national storage capacity of the country’s reservoirs is at 94.7%, a tiny improvement from last week’s 94.1%, and still a significant improvement from last year’s 92.8%.

The country’s largest Water Supply System, the Integrated Vaal River System (IVRS), which is comprised of 14 dams across four provinces increased marginally from 100.5% last week to 100.8% this week.

Some of the Water Supply Systems that have expanded are Bloemfontein from 99.7.% last week to 100.2% this week, Amathole from 101.7% to 103.3%, Butterworth from 100.1% to 100.4%, Klipplaat moved up from 100.2% to 100.5%, Luvuvhu gained from 100.6% to 100.9%, both Crocodile East and West experienced increments from 101.3% to 101.6% and 95.3% to 98.7% respectively.

Cape Town Water Supply System has recorded a decline in water levels from 68.9% to 67.1%, this drop can be attributed to the fact that some parts experience rainfall during winter season. Other Water Supply Systems that have dipped in water levels are Umhlathuze decreasing slightly from 100.5% to 100.4%, Polokwane from 106.6% to 105.3%, Orange from 101.2% to 101.0% and Umgeni is steady and unchanged at 104.4%.

Algoa Water Supply System in the Eastern Cape with dams supplying water to Nelson Mandela Bay Metro continues to be a cause for concern, this is after it recorded yet another decrease from 15.1% to 14.9%.

Six (6) out of nine provinces have experienced improvements in water levels namely, KwaZulu-Natal from 87.6% to 91.4%, Eastern Cape from 77.3% to 78.5%, Limpopo from 87.0% to 87.2%, Mpumalanga from 97.0% to 97.4%, Northern Cape from 99.0% to 100.0%, and North West from 84.8% to 86.9%.

Provinces that have recorded downward movements are Western Cape which decreased marginally from 60.9% to 59.6%, Gauteng from 101.8% to 101.5% and Free State slightly down from 101.2% to 101.1%.

The Gariep, which is South Africa's largest dam decreased marginally from 99.5% last week and is sitting at 99.4% this week. While Sterkfontein Dam, a reserve dam within IVRS, is at 101.0%, showing a tiny reduction from last week’s water level of 101.1%. Vaal Dam has improved from 102.5% to 102.6%.

Meanwhile, the Department is continuously making inroads in its efforts to provide adequate and potable water supply to communities where there are water supply challenges, through implementation of various bulk water supply projects, refurbishment of existing bulk water infrastructure and other interventions to respond to water demand in various parts of the country.

Source: Government of South Africa